OXFORD---- Go for the win or the tie? That was the question that Oxford coach Joe Stochmal had to answer after his team pulled within one of New Fairfield with just over a minute left. Stochmal went for the win and the Wolverines prevailed 22-21 over the Rebels at Oxford High School on Saturday.

"We were going to end it one way or the other," Stochmal said. "We had a play in mind, we wanted to go play-action naked boot and we were fortunate to have it work."

"It was probably my best football moment," Haney said. "I didn't want to let go of the ball afterwards. It was all for my team."

What was perhaps the biggest moment of Oxford's season nearly didn't happen. After New Fairfield bounced back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to tie the game, quarterback Michael McCourt found Collin Cioffi for a 76-yard scoring strike to put the Rebels on top 21-14 with just two minutes left. After New Fairfield's Joe Pacheco sacked Diaz on two straight plays, things were looking bleak for Oxford.

But Stochmal said the team's heart took over.

"Our kids never quit," he said. "When the chips were down, they picked up their heads and continued to fight.

Diaz was able to complete a huge first down pass to Kevin LoSchiavo to Oxford's 45-yard line. On the very next play, Diaz hit wide receiver Chris Vankamerik over the middle for a 55-yard scoring strike, their third TD connection of the game.

"I was able to find a window," Diaz said. I just threw it to him and he did the rest out there."

Vankamerik gave Diaz the credit.

"I had the easy job I just had to catch it," he said. "He threw it, I caught it, same as always. I thought I was going to be caught, but I made it."

New Fairfield coach Anthony Fata offered his thoughts on the big play.

"Our safety kind of cheated over a little," he said. "And he got caught, we got caught, it was a great call by Oxford."

Stochmal liked what he has been seeing between Diaz and Vankamerik. Diaz threw for 336 yards, 265 of those to Vankamerik.

"They're becoming quite a combination," Stochmal said. "Chris is running great routes and Brennan has been a great accurate passer."

Pacheco, New Fairfield's star running back, was held in check for most of three quarters by the Oxford defense before breaking lose for touchdown runs of 31 and 40 yards in the second half.

"Not making excuses, but this track (the worn field) is not a track for Joe," Fata said. "But he got it going for us when we needed him there in the second half."

Pacheco ended with 127 yards on 15 carries.

Fata gave Oxford props for their big win.

"All the credit to Oxford," he said. "They called an awesome game and we didn't execute."

Diaz talked about how much this win meant to the team.

"We really deserve it," he said. "We've worked so hard all year. I'm proud and happy for everyone on this team."

For Fata, it's time to put this loss behind the team.

"We got to get back to the drawing board," Fata said. "Work on our coverages and hopefully pick up the pieces and get back to work for next week."

New Fairfield (4-3) will try to pick up the pieces next week against Pomperaug. Oxford (5-2) will take on Bunnell.